Nigerian founder and convener of FactCheckAfrica, Olasupo Abideen joins global media leaders selected for the new cohort of the AI Journalism Labs as they kick off with an in-person session at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY today.
Mr Olasupo was named among the 23 selected journalists, strategists, and executives from across the globe for the AI Journalism Labs: Leadership cohort program created by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY in partnership with Microsoft.
He is joining other media leaders from Brazil, Germany, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United States whose professional expertise spans newsroom leadership, editorial strategy, audience engagement, and product development.
Starting with an in-person kick-off today and tomorrow, January 10 and 11, 2025, and subsequent virtual engagements, participants of the program will explore what newsroom leadership looks like in the age of artificial intelligence and learn to navigate AI in ethical ways.
According to Marie Gilot, Executive Director of J+ at the Newmark J-School, participants of the program are trailblazers at the intersection of journalism and technology. “By fostering leadership grounded in ethics, innovation, and community impact, this program is equipping them to navigate the complexities of AI while inspiring positive change in the media industry,” she said.
Starting with FactCheckElections a dedicated fact-checking platform for election misinformation which evolved into FactCheeckAfrica, Mr Olasupo has contributed immensely to the fight against mis and disinformation, promotion of digital and media literacy and AI in journalism in Nigeria and Africa. FactCheckAfrica developed the first Artificial Intelligence Fact-checking tool in Nigeria, MyAIFactChecker.
With FactCheckAfrica and the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, he has campaigned for the promotion of media and information literacy across several tertiary institutions, states, and local areas across Nigeria. This initiative led to the development of Nigeria’s first Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for tertiary institutions
His organisations also championed Africa’s first AI Journalism Fellowship, training over 41 newsroom journalists, editors, and academicians to harness AI for improved media practices, AI accountability and ethics, AI literacy, AI for Investigative reporting, data analysis and critical reporting.
